The Mate That Wasn't Mine novel Chapter 98

apter 98

TESSA POV

How does Maxim begin to think in situations such as these. It feels like there is a tinier version of me lodged in my brain, screaming “PARICI

Trying not to break an ankle down the spiral staircase I used the winding gray dreariness to come up with a plan. They think Briggs stayed close. Not out in the industrial or farming zones.

My gut tells me to speak to Allette. That it can’t be competition nerves that are leaving her so twitchy. She isn’t scared when it comes to her talent. So there has to be something else she isn’t telling me.

The bells are still chiming to mark the end of the morning session. I can catch Allette. Hurtling down the final few steps out into the broad daylight, I clatter straight into a blue–shirted Beta. We hit the floor in a heap of gravelly pain, sharp stones lancing my arms. “I’m so sorry!”

Laid flat on his back, he curses, roughly pushing me off. “I’m sorry! I didn’t see you, the sun just blinded me.”

“Watch what you’re doing,” he grumbles, clambering to his knees before pausing and looking back at the tower doorway. “Wait, why were you up there?”

My tongue is silenced.

He hauls himself up to standing, a sharp jawline and piercing coal–like eyes. The blue shirt is stretched to its limits across its chest and I’d guess this beast is an infantry expert. Shirt sleeves rolled up, he sports a variety of black and dark purple swirling tattoos down to his wrist. Twisted ropes, with a deep cut into one of the scrolled words thanks to the gravel I just barreled him down into.

“You shouldn’t be up there, you’re a first year.”

“I…” backing away.

“Tess!” squawks a familiar, high pitched voice that I think may somehow be even more nasally since we last met. “Fraser, baby!”

Malva is a whirlwind of noise. Demanding attention with every movement. Her hands are all over her dusty man and his buzzed–short black hair. “The fuck is wrong with you Darnell!”

My wolf wants me to raise hell. To remind her I’m not a Darnell now. But that won’t change anything in my favour. Entire groups of people have stopped

to watch the confusion now.

With an arm slung around his waist Malva glares whilst her boyfriend coldly repeats. “I said, why were you up there?”

“I can guess,” Malva smirked, pouting her lips.

“Baby, please, be quiet” Fraser tuts. “Tell me, or I’ll have to arrest you.”

“I’ve done nothing wrong. I went to see find of the Wardens.”

“Oh I bet you fucking did, probably more than one,” Malva whispers, knowing full well her mocking voice carried far enough to make some of the onlookers giggle. My fists tighten. I’ve already held and arrow to someone’s throat today, I can’t be violent again.

“Tess! Did you find him?” another voice announces, cool and calm parting the group. It is Vigo. His silent, stern aura means people immediately back away from him. Long silvery hair hanging down past his shoulders, still wearing huge black pads across his shoulders from whatever Infantry training he’s been doing.

Relief hits me so hard I’m almost winded when he adds. “I tried the dining hall, not in there.”

Fraser tilts his head even higher, reminding me of a bulldog, eager to be more than its little legs allow. Vigo is fast approaching, and Malva’s smirk is fading just as quickly.

“No. Sorry I had a quick check up there,” I answer him, trying to be vague.

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Chapter 98

Then let’s try looking down by scent–tracing. Accommodation?”

“Who are you looking for?” Fraser snaps, his dark blue chest puffing out in annoyance at some first years potentially knowing more than bet

“Can’t say, sorry,” Vigo snaps Before gently nudging my upper arm with his elbow. Together we turn and walk away, ignoring the crowd I still need t Allette, but right now not giving away the fact Alpha Remy uses abandoned Warden’s rooms for headspace takes over.

As soon as we reach scent–tracing it’s quiet enough to talk. “Thank you. So much. I was really stuck there.”

“It’s fine,” Vigo remarks. “It looked a nasty situation.”

This is the first time we’ve really spoken and it would be foolish of me to let it die. “Did you hear about what happened with Fred earlier?”

“Fred the Egg?” a smirk almost appearing upon his thin, serious mouth. “I did. Rumours will stop soon I’m sure. Or you’ll kill them all

“Why did you help me?”

“Because I’ve been told it doesn’t matter if I’m first in scent–tracing, which I am” he remarks with a glint of humour in his stormy eyes. “Not if I am dead inside with no friends.”

“Goddess who said that to you?”

“Maxim,” his pale face frowning like I’m cracking a joke. “We crossed paths the morning he left.”

“Oh. I’m sorry.”

“It’s fairly true, what he said. I have never minded working alone.”

We fell into silence, standing under the unlit black iron lantern above the wooden double doors. Vigo clears his throat, I think he might be as awkward as me. “When you had Irene and Briggs, though they were weaker, together you made a good team. So…there is merit to working with others. Potentially. We’ll see.”

“Maxim…has a way with words,” is all I manage to say.

“He mentioned Warden Marshall taking an interest in my future. So I think his advice is worth following.”

Now it is my turn to hide a smile. If Maxim has signed Vigo up to the same kind of brutal rebuilding of persona that he endured he must think he has potential. But still, it’s going to be tough.

!

“Well, then you can say you have a friend in scent–tracing now,” offering my hand in friendship.

He pauses, his hand halfway towards mine. “But when I hurt you?”

“It’s done now. I know you wouldn’t do it again.”

“I wouldn’t. Sincerely,” shaking my hand, his touch so much colder than that of my beloved mate. “I really need to find Allette, that’s who I was hoping to

catch-”

Only for the bells to ring for the next session. Shit. No lunch and now no time. “You could always miss the session?” Vigo suggests with a smirk. “Take a

loss?”

“No, I’ll find her after, don’t worry,” flapping my hand quickly.

Whilst the bells ring out, we’re stuck a while longer. Alpha Remy’s warning about Brigg’s doesn’t leave my head. “Did you get interrogated then? By Maxim?”

“No, Warden Marshall and Remy,” shoving up the white and gold training sleeve to show an inch–long strip of burn. “I was lucky. They knew I had no

interest in rebellion.”

“What about Briggs?”

“What about him?”

“What happened to him, you know after?”

“Not a clue sorry.”

With that Vigo clears his throat once more and stands up straight, hands clasped one in front of the other. The conversation is over. We’re friends, but for the kind that trade gossip unfortunately.

He gets the win too. My mind isn’t focused enough on the scents I’m meant to find. Half of the time I’m checking the treeline for Briggs, then for Aliette. 11 still get pangs of loneliness when I sprint through the field, knowing Irene and Briggs are no longer beside me.

However defeat refuels my desire for information. I dress quicker than anyone else and run up to the packhouse. Allette is already in the queue for food Ignoring the protests of others. She colours when she sees me approaching but keeps shuffling forward.

“I need to talk to you.”

“I’d like to eat first-”

“Allette. I can just ask you at the table in front of everyone.”

She slams the tray back onto metal racking, the face taut. For the first time I notice make–up on her face. She’s been covering up some dark, tired eyes. My pulse is racing. This has to mean something.

Ducking my head down, not like everyone in the dining hall hasn’t already noticed me, we walk out into the corridor. The same corridor I first met Irene, off the side, away from everyone else.

Allette is a nervous wreck. Pacing, switching from fussing with her baby pink silk scarf to folding her arm. “Go on then, ask me your questions!”

“Are you okay?”

“Of course I’m not. But that doesn’t matter does it.”

“Of course it does,” I whisper, stepping forward and taking her hands in mine. She’s shaking. “Allette, whatever you have to say, I’m not going to stop being your friend. But I saw Irene looking juts as miserable as you and never said anything. I can’t ignore those signs again.”

“Oh Tess,” Allette mutters, looking up at the ceiling, her stormy eyes brimming with tears. Keeping her hands in mine I squeeze them tight and ask the all important question.

“Where is he then? Briggs?”

Allette’s head jerks back down, her silvery eyes wide and confused. “Briggs?”

“That’s why you’re so stressed isn’t it? You’re hiding him? Helping him? I’ll make sure you’re not in any trouble-”

“Tess, I am no traitor!” Allette rasps, her sultry voice strained into sounding almost normal.

“Then what? What is sending you so crazy?”

“I’m pregnant! I’m pregnant okay! And…I…I don’t know what to do, I’m all alone and I haven’t told anyone else but yeah. That’s where I’m at okay. So, I know I’ve been different, but please, please just let me work this out on my own-”

Both of us spin around at the sound of a door slamming. Someone was listening. Allette, slaps her hands together, “Shit! Tess!” Allette whimpers, her facade giving way for just a few seconds. Leaning against the wall in the dark with her arms folded she looks like the loneliest girl in the world,

“You’re not on your own,” I repeat. “You’re not. Anything I can do to help.”

Chapter 98

Tell me why are you looking for Briggs then? I heard you were up in the Warden’s tower: Alletta snaps briskly. She’s put the lid on k back to her curious cat act, all slinking and above the drama of normal life. Except she really isn’t. Not anymore. My gaze drops down to without thinking and I know I just pissed her off. She might as well have fire coming out of her eyes.

It’s for me to put on an act. “I feel like I need to find him, that’s all. I want to know what happened to him in that Interrogation.

“Whatever, if you’re not going to tell me the truth, I’m going to get something to eat.”

Allette walks off and leaves me alone in the corridor. I need a new idea. And fast. Alpha Remy entrusted me to try and find something. I’ve come up with nothing.

Eventually I return to the hall and quietly eat with a perfectly jolly Allette, Kai and Silas. The competition is tomorrow. Saturday. When Alpha Remy walko in himself the dining hall goes quiet. He smiles at us all and announces a day off training for all first years to cheer on the students against the Wardens Walking through the tables and columns of the packed hall towards getting his own meal his gaze meets mine. I’m forced to shake my head no. I’ve failed.